Conservative or Liberal, Deist or Pagan, Jersey transplant or Lehigh Valley native, we're all in this mess together. Let's talk. Let us do no harm. Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne

Friday, February 15, 2013

Jennings Speaks For Those With No Voice

Nobody knows better than Alan Jennings how much I've opposed his involvement in Allentown's NIZ because I've told him that repeatedly. But I am pleased to see that he is finally willing to speak for those who have no voice and insist that the NIZ developers start raising some money for programs that actually help people who make less than $1,000,000,000,000,000 per year.

41 comments:

bernie, i understand matt assad's omission, but not yours! what was not mentioned, by either of you, is that jenning's organization would administer the suggested funds. this is not to say that he has anything but good intentions, but that fact should be part of the story.

This man has been a actor of the local politicaly corrupt acting under the cover of color of law with many legal facets of human service organizations in collution to take advantage of the disadvantaged for more than the money his organization allocates to the public.

It doesn't matter what Jenning's motivations are here. The fact of the matter is, his demands for more money prove that the NIZ isn't living up to its promise already. If Browne, Mann and the rest of the fools who composed this legislation thought that a "development fee" was necessary to lift all the boats in this pond, then they would have written this development fee into the law itself. When the public was sold this NIZ law, we were told that development, in and of itself, would help the surrounding neighbors of the NIZ area. Now we see quite plainly that many on the "inside" believe this is not true.

Apparently, ANIZDA can make up the rules as they go along. Just having this debate lets all developers know that the "rules" of today may or may not be the rules for tomorrow. It is clear that Jennings is many things, but not a business person who knows what motivates development and what deters development. Let me tell you something: a new "development fee" that is launched out of nowhere will DETER development. I guarantee it.

What's funny is that the people Jennings says he represents are the same people the NIZ was designed to remove from Center City.

Now that I think more about the development fee, I wonder if maybe bringing this up so late in the game wasn't part of some grand plan. Perhaps, in an effort to protect the major developers (JB Reilly & Butz), those projects were allowed to proceed without this fee, but everyone on the 2nd tier and lower of the NIZ priority list does have to pay. Just a thought.

A source of supposed "free" money has been uncovered with the introduction of the NIZ. Lots of "concerned" people are coming out of the woodwork to benefit from that.

It's no longer acceptable to wait for ANTICIPATED spin-off benefits, as those benefits might never have existed in the first place. What's desired now is some sort of REQUIRED donation for the common good. A better guarantee of the value of the NIZ.

Either way, the FREE money is not exactly free, is it? Those who provide it simply find a way to pass the obligation down the food chain. Like Corbett's proposed increase in revenues from gas suppliers. Guess who will end up paying for that?

Who knows, hockey fans? An additional dollar added to your ticket price might end up being the Phantom's contribution to the neighborhood good. Generous of the Phantoms, no?

There's a problem with the headline- "Jennings Speaks For Those With No Voice". Jennings is a teriffic guy and a great champion, but he needs to be giving those with no voice a voice, not speaking for them. Those voices are out there, they are just hard to hear over Alan's attempts to speak for them.

The concept that a non-elected implementation board in a legislatively defined jurisdiction can mandate fees for use outside of that jurisdiction without specific authorization to do so in the enabling legislation is unacceptable. I generally support Mr. Jennings and his goals. In this case a voluntary contribution by NIZ developers to benefit surrounding neighborhoods makes much sense in many ways. A mandatory fee on the other hand sets a dangerous precedent. Well intentioned ends do not justify using such means.

But I thought the disadvantaged were going to be helped by the development itself?! Guess not...but then again, the NIZ was never designed to help the disadvantaged.

Many people believe that Allentown has so many disadvantaged people choosing to live here because of all the incentives this town offers them. And now Jennings is demanding more. It's never ending and completely counterproductive. And as anon 11:02 points out, unacceptable.

The new arena will offer dozens of part-time, no-benefits, ticket-taker, popcorn-maker, and janitorial jobs. Workers will flock to Allentown and begin to secure housing with their big compensation packages. Trickle down works. This is widely known. Peter Jennings is a genius.

This is WHY I have been preaching self sufficiency and empowerment. The builders, contractors, and planners don't owe us anything and they KNOW this and we have to stop thinking that they do. As long as we have the attitude of obtaining a "hand out" instead of a "hand up" then this will be the response we will often get: more bureaucracy while those still in need languish. I say have them tell us what the projects will NEED as far as employee and service-wise so we can start teaching/training the surrounding residents how to obtain some of the benefits/opportunities. I applaud Mr. Jennings for his work and assistance, but some of us would rather get the info so we can go in and speak and do for ourselves...

@ Alfonso Todd, Dear Sir,what is to ratio of needed services of the Wynedote Projects relative to ethnicity specific/social-worker interpreters?People can't be helped if they are unable to fill out the Form's correctly. Language barriers & all that.